REVIEW OF Ontario Virtual School BY student, Arshon Hosseini

(5) Student Experience

Ontario Virtual School was a great experience for me overall. I liked how flexible it was, especially since I could work at my own pace and fit studying into my schedule. I wouldn’t say I completely loved it, but I did kind of love the independence it gave me. One thing I wish I’d known before starting was how important it is to stay disciplined; there’s no one pushing you, so you have to manage your own time well. If I could change one thing, I’d add more built-in structure, like weekly progress check-ins or study plans, to help students stay on track. The platform is easy to use, and the teachers respond quickly, but a little more guidance would make it even better.

(5) School Leadership

Yes, I do respect the school leaders at Ontario Virtual School. The teachers, guidance counsellors, and support staff were professional, responsive, and helpful whenever I needed assistance. I appreciated how quickly my teacher marked assignments and responded to questions, and how smoothly the office handled things like registration and sending marks to OUAC. What they do well is provide a clear and organized learning system. The platform is easy to navigate, and everything—from lessons to evaluations—is structured in a way that makes self-paced learning manageable. If I could ask them to do more of anything, it would be to provide more proactive check-ins or optional live support sessions. A little more personal interaction could help students stay motivated and feel more connected, especially when learning independently.

(5) Teaching

I think the teachers at Ontario Virtual School strike a pretty good balance—they don’t ask too much, but they don’t make things too easy either. The workload felt fair, and the lessons were clear and manageable if you stayed organized. I usually felt that I knew what was expected of me. The course outlines, rubrics, and assignment instructions were detailed, so I wasn’t left guessing about how to succeed. Practice tests and review materials also helped guide my studying. When teachers talk about success, I think they imagine it as students understanding the material, applying it properly, and showing independence. It’s less about memorizing facts and more about learning how to think through problems and manage your time. To them, success means preparing you for what comes next—whether that’s university or another goal.

(5) Academics

For me, the work at Ontario Virtual School was just right. It wasn’t too easy, but it also wasn’t overwhelming if you stayed on top of it. The lessons broke things down in a way that made the content easier to understand, even when the topics got more complex, especially in Grade 12 Chemistry. I do think what I learned will be useful later in life. Chemistry helped me develop problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and an understanding of scientific concepts that will definitely help as I prepare for university and a future in healthcare. Even if someone doesn’t go into science, learning how to study independently and manage time—skills you need at OVS—are useful for any future path and/or obstacle.

(5) School Life

If I were giving a tour of Ontario Virtual School, I’d start with the online student dashboard. That’s the heart of the whole experience—where students access lessons, submit assignments, track their progress, and communicate with teachers. It's super simple and easy to use. The dashboard is very simple and not overdone to the point where it is too complex to follow. Starting there helps visitors understand right away how OVS works: everything is digital, self-paced, and designed for independent learning. It also shows how accessible the course content is, which is one of the biggest strengths of the school. From there, I’d walk them through a sample lesson and explain how students use practice tests and evaluations to prepare for their final exams.

(5) Admissions

The admissions process at Ontario Virtual School was very straightforward and not stressful at all. I remember just filling out the online registration form, selecting my course, and making the payment. Within a day or so, I had access to the course and could start learning right away. There were clear instructions on what to do next, and the support staff was available if I had any questions. If I had to give advice to someone applying, I’d say: make sure you know why you’re taking the course—whether it’s to improve a grade, catch up, or get ahead—and have a plan for staying on track, since the learning is self-paced.